Repigmentation of segmental vitiligo by autologous minigrafting

Segmental vitiligo (SV) shows distinct clinical, physiologic, and therapeutic characteristics as opposed to those seen in generalized vitiligo (GV). Three patients affected with SV, a relatively unresponsive dermatosis, were successfully repigmented by autologous minigrafting. The achieved results demonstrate a new therapeutic approach for SV.     

The determination of lipoprotein Lp(a) by rate and endpoint nephelometry

Rate nephelometry is a fast and convenient method for Lp(a) quantification. The linearity in the range of the physiological serum concentrations is good and there is good correlation with other immunochemical methods. The antibody consumption is some 50% higher when compared to the Laurell procedure if light scatter is measured in the RU mode. Measurements in the SU mode on the other hand consume less antibody than the Laurell procedure. The endpoint method, however, is more time-consuming and considered to be less accurate. In addition, only clear samples should be used. Lipemic sera should be cleared by lipase treatment or by high speed centrifugation. The treatment of samples with detergents causes a pronounced reduction of the immunochemical response and thus should be avoided.     

Genetic analysis of carcinogen enhancement of type 5 adenovirus transformation of cloned fischer rat embryo fibroblast cells

Pretreatment of CREF cells with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) before infection with the host-range cold-sensitive type 5 adenovirus (Ad5) mutant H5hr1 results in a dose-dependent carcinogen enhancement of viral transformation (CET). The properties of CET observed with H5hr1, which include both an MMS dose-dependent enhancement in the number of transformed foci and an increase in transformation frequency after correction for cell toxicity, are not observed in carcinogen-pretreated wild-type (wt) Ad5 (H5wt)-infected CREF cells. This study was conducted to determine the role of the viral E1A and E1B transforming genes of H5hr1 in mediating the unique CET phenotype of H5hr1. Coinfection of MMS-pretreated CREF cells with H5wt or H5sub309 (which displays a wt Ad5 phenotype) and H5hr1 resulted in a suppression of the unique CET phenotype that was directly related to the multiplicity of infection with wt Ad5. Suppression of the unique H5hr1 CET phenotype was also apparent in MMS-pretreated CREF cells coinfected with H5hr1 and an Ad5 mutant expressing either a wt 13S E1A-encoded 289 amino-acid (aa) protein and an intact wt E 1B gene or a wt 13S E1A-encoded 289-aa protein and a 22S E1B-encoded 495-aa protein. In contrast, the unique H5hr1 CET phenotype was not suppressed in MMS-pretreated CREF cells coinfected with H5hr1 and Ad5 or Ad2 mutants expressing either a wt 12S E1A-encoded 243-aa protein and both wt E1B gene products or an intact wt E1A gene and a wt E1B 13S-encoded 175-aa protein. That genetic changes in both the E1A and E1B viral regions of H5hr1 were required to induce the unique CET phenotype was also indicated by the inability of a recombinant Ad5 containing the 0—4.5 map-unit region of H5hr1 and the 4.5–100 map-unit region of H5sub309 to display the H5hr1 unique CET phenotype. Direct confirmation of the requirement for both gene regions of H5hr1 to mediate its unique CET was obtained by generating CREF cells stably expressing a wt Ad5 E1A 13S-encoded 289-aa protein and a wt E1B 22S-encoded 495-aa protein. In these CREF transformants (which displayed a CREF-like morphology), transformation by H5hr1 was not reduced, but the unique CET phenotype after MMS pretreatment was eliminated. These results suggest that alterations in both the 13S-encoded E1A and 22S-encoded E1B gene products of H5hr1 contribute to its unique CET.     

Triple diaphragmatic rupture with disruption of the pericardium: pericardial reconstruction by lyophilized dura allograft

A patient is described with the unusual findings of intrapericardial diaphragmatic rupture combined with total disruption of the pericardium and partial abruption of the diaphragm from its costal origin. Through a third traumatic diaphragmal leak, the small intestine had prolapsed intercostally without contact to the pleural space. Surgical repair was done by direct diaphragmatic suturing and lyophilized dura allograft reconstruction of the left pericardial circumference. Postoperatively, atrioventricular block secondary to myocardial contusion necessitated pacemaker implantation. The patient left the hospital five weeks after the injury.     

Histogenesis of demyelinating lesions in the spinal cord of guinea pigs with chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Spinal cord lesions in Hartley guinea pigs with chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) were studied by light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy at different stages of the formation of demyelinated plaques. In addition the inflammatory response in the meninges was studied in isolated pia mater preparations separated from the spinal cord surface. In initial chronic lesions in the spinal cord, inflammation was restricted to penetrating parenchymal veins of the spinal cord and meninges. With the formation of large demyelinated plaques in the spinal cord, massive fibrosis of the meninges with infiltration by inflammatory cells was noted in an area covering the surface of the lesion. In plaques which reach the spinal cord surface, inflammatory cells could be seen passing between the pia and the spinal cord substance. In chronic remyelinated lesions, adhesions between meningeal fibroblasts and the astroglial limiting membrane were seen. In addition a topographical correlation between the distribution of spinal cord veins and venules and demyelinated plaques was found. These observations indicate that spinal cord lesions in chronic relapsing EAE are initiated by perivenous inflammation in the parenchyma and the meninges. Plaque formation, especially in spinal cord surface lesions, is additionally enhanced by the entrapment of inflammatory cells in the fibrosed meninges. The exchange of macrophages through the glia-limiting membrane may be responsible for the more rapid debris removal in the spinal cord in comparison with brain lesions in chronic relapsing EAE.     

Serum apolipoproteins A-I and B in male and female full-term new borns of the Toledo study (Spain)

Cord serum apolipoproteins (Apo) A-I and B from 548 healthy, full-term singletons were studied. Females displayed slightly, but significantly, higher Apo A-I levels ( p < 0.001) than males. Particularly at weeks 38 and 39 ( p < 0.05), whereas Apo B was not gender affected but likewise increased ( p < 0.05) between weeks 37 and 41. Apo A-I values increased ( p < 0.05) with gestational age in males, but with birthweight in females. Results suggest that small gender and age-related metabolic differences exist at birth in terms infants     

Modifying the snack food consumption patterns of inner city high school students: the Great Sensations Study

The Great Sensations Program is a nutrition-education project developed for high school students. It was designed to (a) decrease students' consumption of salty snacks and (b) increase students' consumption of fresh fruit snacks. The overall programs were designed following principles of social learning: informative instruction, participatory classroom activities, personal goal setting, feedback, and reinforcement. The program was delivered in six lessons during regular health-education classes. A parental involvement program consisted of mailers and telephone calls to parents to teach them to encourage changes in student snacking habits. A schoolwide program was designed to provide out-of-class peer support for student modifications in salty snack foods. The program was evaluated in one high school using a 2 X 2 design. A second high school served as a no-treatment control. Program assessments were made at both schools before and after the classes, at the end of the school year, and the following fall the next school year following summer vacation. The schoolwide media program was effective in decreasing consumption of salty snack foods and in increasing consumption of target snack foods. However, only those students receiving classroom instruction maintained those changes until the end of the school year. No changes were maintained across summer vacation. These outcomes suggest that school programs developed using principles of social learning may be effective in facilitating important behavior changes at home and at school.     

Effect of insulin and its derivatives on incorporation of [1-14C]glycine into tissue proteins

The effect of parenteral injections of insulin and its polypeptide A and B chains on the rate of protein metabolism in various organs of rats was investigated. Insulin was shown to accelerate the incorporation of [1-¹⁴C]glycine into proteins of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, skeletal muscle, and thyroid, thymus, and adrenal glands but to have no action on this process in heart muscle and the diaphragm. The A and B chains of insulin also activate protein synthesis in several organs. However, despite some specificity of their effect, the spectrum of their action is narrower than that of insulin.A. V. Vishnevskii Institute of Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR M. I. Kuzin). Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 4, pp. 419–421, April, 1978.